The stage musical adaptation of the Gene Kelly classic, Singin’ in the Rain, makes its splash this month at the Marina Bay Sands with its comic wit, catchy tunes and delightful dance sequences. It tells the story of an evolving film production as the movie industry transitions from the silent film era into the age of “talking pictures” or sound films. Surprise surprise, movies didn’t always feature synchronous voices! Singin’ in the Rain is the tale of the stars who triumphed and those were left behind as a result of this change.
When movies were silent, their actors and actresses did not need to fret over enunciation or remembering lines. They simply needed to look good on the screen. Lina Lamont’s (played by Taryn-Lee Hudson) grating voice was no obstacle to her career for she had no lines so to speak and as the opening scene of the musical hinted, her co-star Don Lockwood (played by Grant Almirall) kept her speech minimal during film premieres.
As the villain that the audience would love to hate, Lamont with her misguided confidence and vile personality was definitely the scene-stealer for me and it was also through her actions that generated much of the laughter heard throughout the musical. She even had a solo in the musical where she showed she had no talent in the singing department either. Well, musicals aren’t always about pleasant showtunes and Lamont’s “What’s Wrong With Me” certainly proved its point in furthering her character’s plot.
Lina Lamont, played by Taryn-Lee Hudson shines in her number “What’s Wrong with Me?”.
From the colourful costumes to the elaborate choreography, the musical is set to dazzle. The set is tall, grey and rather imposing. It is punctuated by random pieces that capture the fun and glamour of 1920s Hollywood such as the old “Hollywoodland” sign, a palm tree to the side and giant neon lights. The clever use of props onstage complemented the ensemble’s dance numbers.
Cosmo Brown (played by Steven van Wyk) Lockwood’s sidekick does this to hilarious effect as he went about his solo, “Make ‘Em Laugh”, through interacting with the props that one will typically find on a movie set such as a bucket, wooden beam and even a faux brick wall.
Cosmo Brown (played by Steven van Wyk) brings laughter to the crowd with “Make ‘Em Laugh” number.
“I’m singing in the rain/ Just singing in the rain/ What a glorious feelin’/ I’m happy again …”
No doubt, one of the highlights of the show and perhaps its main draw is to see the production rain “live” onstage. The promotional poster for the musical is spot on in terms of the visuals. Taking a page from the film, the musical recreates the iconic scene from the movie where Don Lockwood splashes puddles and gets drenched while dancing about with his umbrella, singing the titular song.
The ‘live’ rain scene of Don Lockwood (played by Grant Almirall) is the highlight of the musical.
As the water continues to pour onto the stage throughout the song, it is deliberately gathered into a puddle. If you have tickets for the Splash Zone (i.e. front row seats and a few rows behind), get ready to whip out the free poncho provided because as the puddle grows, so does the amount of water that splashes out to the audience when Don taps and kicks his feet about in the rain.
Whether you have caught the original movie or otherwise, Singin’ In The Rain is guaranteed to delight you with its strong cast and enchanting song and dance.
Where: MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
When: From 9 July 2015 (for a limited period)
Tickets: Prices start from S$65 (excluding booking fee). Booking can made at the Marina Bay Sands Box Offices or online via marinabaysands.com/ticketing and www.sistic.com.sg.
